“Authentic leadership” – sounds good, but is not an end in itself. In reality, this means taking responsibility, questioning yourself and having the courage to speak uncomfortable truths. Especially in change processes – whether digital, structural or cultural – strategy is not the only decisive factor.
It is people who create impact. And that starts with leadership. If you are not prepared to start with yourself, you will not take your team with you, implement a transformation or shape a culture.
Self-reflection: Where leadership begins
Self-reflection is not a philosophical luxury. It is a management tool – often the most effective one. Understanding why you block in conflicts, how you react in pressure situations or why you postpone decisions creates clarity. And clarity creates the ability to act. In times when leadership has to become more agile, transparent and communicative, the ability to self-reflect is a real competitive advantage.
Admitting mistakes strengthens trust
Mistakes happen. What matters is not how you deal with them. According to a study by PwC, only 38% of Swiss employees feel safe enough in an environment to talk openly about mistakes. This is a cultural problem. Managers who admit their own mistakes create precisely this security. They show: It’s okay to learn here, you don’t have to be perfect to be valuable. And that is the ground on which innovation is created.
Communication is not a question of tools
– but of attitude. Those who take leadership seriously speak plainly. They do not conceal what is difficult. They listen without immediately judging. And they create spaces in which others can open up. In “Project Aristotle”, Google investigated what makes high-performance teams. The most important factor: psychological safety. Openness, vulnerability, feedback culture – these are not buzzwords, but productive forces.
Self-reflection, a culture of error and open communication are not trivial issues. They determine whether people participate, teams function and change succeeds. If you want to lead today, you don’t start with the process – you start with yourself. This is exactly what makes leadership credible. And effective.
